Fire Destroys Home
By S. Alexander Gerould agerould@post-journal.comArticle Photos
KIANTONE - It wasn't raining, but still it felt as if water was falling from the sky as firefighters battled a Thursday blaze on Dewey Avenue just outside the city limits.
Because of downed power lines, Kiantone, Frewsburg and Busti volunteers as well as Jamestown firefighters had to keep their distance from the fire, and they fought the blaze from their trucks until National Grid arrived to turn off electricity to the home, located at 1771 Dewey Ave. As a result, crews arched water onto the structure, causing some water to fall to the ground.
The person who was living in the house had just moved out and was not there. However, she still had personal belongings inside, said Wendy Porter, the former resident's daughter-in-law who lives next door.
''The person just moved out,'' Ms. Porter said. ''Thankfully nobody was home.''
A house and barn located yards from the fire did not sustain any significant damage.
According to Lt. Michael Garvey of the Jamestown Fire Department, the fire was called in around 12:30 p.m. Jamestown sent a truck to the site, while volunteer firefighters raced to the location.
''They came in,'' Garvey said. ''They put water on it.''
School officials at Jefferson Middle School, which is located on Martin Road near the scene of the fire, were releasing students from a different location because fire departments were using a hydrant by the school to help fight the fire. Jamestown Police officers blocked off part of the road, and drivers were diverted down side streets.
''They're running fire hoses down the one street .... so that's why they have it closed off,'' said Cathy Panebianco, district communications manager.
Garvey said the blaze was still under investigation, and crews would be working at the scene until late afternoon Thursday.
''They haven't even started it,'' he said of finding the cause of the fire. ''They probably won't start the investigation until 4 or 5 p.m.''
A crowd gathered at the scene to watch firefighters battle the blaze.
''They're excellent neighbors, very nice people,'' said Julie Whiting, a neighbor. ''It's a shame.''
